BRIGHTON, Mass. — Linus Ullmark posted a .935 save percentage in his final nine appearances of the regular season. Jeremy Swayman, meanwhile, recorded an .895 save percentage over his last nine starts.
On the flip side, Swayman was in net for three of the Bruins’ four wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had a .959 save percentage. Swayman’s last start was a 23-dazzler against the Washington Capitals.
So who will get Game 1? General manager Don Sweeney isn’t saying.
Either way, the Bruins are dealing from a position of strength.
“Our goalies know what the plan is,” said Sweeney. “They know what their strengths are for our hockey club and how much we rely on them. Performance and results will dictate some of this. But we know what the plan is going in. And so do they. We’re comfortable with it.”
Throughout the season, Jim Montgomery kept an open mind about a pure goalie rotation in the playoffs. At one point, the Bruins coach said he would consider it. At another, Montgomery acknowledged it would be difficult to switch goalies for Game 2 if his Game 1 goalie started with a win.
For a good stretch of the season, it looked like Swayman had the upper hand. He earned his first All-Star Game bid. Then when the Bruins considered trading Ullmark, it put Swayman in line to be the postseason workhorse.
But Ullmark found his Vezina Trophy touch after the March 8 trade deadline. It may be enough for him to get first dibs.
If so, there is one guarantee: Montgomery and goalie coach Bob Essensa will not wait as long as they did last year to make a switch.
Lindholm-McAvoy vs. Matthews?
Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, the Bruins’ top two defensemen, skated together during Thursday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. If Montgomery keeps the power pair in Game 1, they will be sure to butt heads with Auston Matthews. One of the Bruins’ priorities will be negating the 69-goal-scorer’s opportunities.
“He’s got linemates who can put it right on his tape for him,” said Charlie Coyle, who could also take shifts against Matthews. “You’ve just got to know where he is, especially in our D zone. He likes to loop away after cycling it and find that sweet spot coming down Broadway there in the middle. It’s not just a one-person job. It’s on everyone to be there, be tight, be compact.”
The trick with stacking top defenders against Matthews is giving Mitch Marner and William Nylander more offensive oxygen. Matt Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo practiced as the No. 2 pair. Kevin Shattenkirk and Andrew Peeke, both right-shot defensemen, were on the third pair. Parker Wotherspoon was the extra defender.
“That’s the lockdown mentality,” said Sweeney of pairing McAvoy and Lindholm. “But if you’re going to spread it around and what the opponents present, then you’re able to go away from it. Lindholm and Carlo played an awful lot together. Grizzy and Mac have played a lot together. We’re able to mix and match effectively. You just never know. We’re all hoping for complete health throughout the playoffs. But it’s unlikely.”
Like most defensemen, Shattenkirk is not as comfortable playing his weak side. But the Bruins may prefer Shattenkirk’s offensive touch over using Wotherspoon, a lefty, on Peeke’s flank.
Shattenkirk replaced McAvoy at the point on the No. 1 power play in the regular-season finale against the Ottawa Senators. He set up Pavel Zacha for the Bruins’ only goal. The veteran defenseman is a more rapid decision-maker on the power play than McAvoy. Shattenkirk and Zacha were on a first unit that also included David Pastrnak, Danton Heinen and James van Riemsdyk.
“Our power play needs to come back online here,” said Sweeney. “Fortunately we scored a goal the other night. Hopefully it gives the guys a little bit of confidence.”
Extra players inbound
The Bruins plan to recall two more players from Providence for Friday’s practice. Sweeney identified Mason Lohrei as one of them. Johnny Beecher could be the other.
As for Thursday, the Bruins practiced with no extra forwards. Van Riemsdyk and Pat Maroon were the fourth-line wings next to Jesper Boqvist. Maroon was a healthy scratch against Ottawa after playing the previous night against the Capitals. He made his Bruins debut on April 13 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I thought the first game was OK,” said Maroon. “Second game, I kind of built off the first game. Just getting into it, getting the nerves out of myself, feeling confident, playing with the puck a little more. It’s over now. Now it’s the fun stuff.”
Derek Forbort, who finished the season on long-term injured reserve, is scheduled for a rehab assignment with the Providence Bruins. Forbort underwent two procedures for undisclosed injuries. The defensive defenseman may become available in the playoffs. The veteran is unrestricted at year’s end.
“That’s a wait and see,” said Sweeney. “Derek’s made great strides — a little bit surprisingly, to tell you the truth. He was on the operating table not too long ago for two different situations. Good on him. Good on the training staff. But we still have an undetermined timeline on how he’s going to continue to progress. But it’s certainly a positive sign that he’s made the progress he has.”
(Top photo of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark: Rich Gagnon / Getty Images)